IT201800009637A1 - AUTOMATED STATION AND RELATED METHOD FOR VERIFYING THE PRE-PACKAGING COMPLIANCE OF PARCELS, IN PARTICULAR CONTAINING TELEPHONE ITEMS - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

of the patent for industrial invention entitled:

"AUTOMATED STATION AND RELATIVE METHOD FOR VERIFYING THE PRE-PACKAGING COMPLIANCE OF PARCELS, IN PARTICULAR CONTAINING TELEPHONE ITEMS"

The present invention relates to an automated station and to a related method for verifying the pre-packing compliance of packages, in particular containing telephony items.

It is generally known that retailers of telephony items, such as mobile phones, smartphones, SIM cards, covers ..., etc., require a central distribution body and on a semi-regular basis to deliver new series of items to be resold. .

The items required are typically organized within packages packed at one or more respective logistic units of capillary distribution, in which there is a warehouse.

Before being packed using special packing machines, each package is generally prepared by a plurality of warehouse operators who, on the basis of a list of items ordered by the retailer, take a respective part of these items from the warehouse, chosen according to convenience criteria. , for example related to the location of each item in the warehouse.

After the prepared package is actually packed, another operator delivers the latter to a courier who takes care of delivering the package to the retailer who placed the order.

The Applicant was able to find that in some cases, the courier fraudulently manipulates the package, so that the package delivered to the retailer is missing some items.

In the latter cases, the retailer makes a complaint against the distribution body after noticing the absence of the items when opening the delivered package.

Generally, at the time of receipt of the complaint, the distribution body does not have sufficient evidence to ascertain with certainty the responsibility for the incident to the courier, nor is it able to establish whether the complaint is true.

For example, in fact, the courier could argue that the missing items were not present in the package already from the time of packing the package itself.

In other words, the courier could attribute the responsibility for the incident to errors or thefts made by warehouse operators during the preparation of the package.

To try to solve this problem, some distribution bodies carry out random checks on the conformity of the packages before packing, so as to be able to have evidence at least occasionally that demonstrates the tampering of the package by the courier or the falsity of the complaint.

These checks are carried out manually, with low frequency and involving a number of warehouse operators equal to how many employees are employed to pick up the items.

Therefore, an increase in the frequency of these checks is economically inconvenient in view of the need to employ several operators to carry out activities of mere verification.

Depending on the context of uncertainty described above, compensation for economic damage for the loss of items, having a medium-high value, cannot often be requested from the courier or retailer.

Generally, the insurance costs of obtaining compensation are also high due to this uncertainty.

Therefore, the need is felt to increase the efficiency of the pre-packing checks of the packages, in order to have total certainty about the responsibility for any disappearance of items intended to form the packages.

The purpose of the invention is therefore to provide an automated station and a related method for verifying the pre-packaging compliance of packages, in particular containing telephony items, which allow the above requirement to be fulfilled in a simple and economical way.

According to the invention, an automated station and a related method are provided for verifying the pre-packaging compliance of packages, in particular containing telephony items, as defined in the attached claims.

The invention will now be described with reference to the attached drawings which illustrate a non-limiting example of implementation, in which:

- Figure 1 illustrates in perspective an embodiment of an automated station according to the invention;

- Figure 2 is a block diagram illustrating phases of a method according to the invention; And

- figure 3 shows the execution of a step of the method of figure 2 through the station of figure 1. In figure 1, the reference number 1 indicates an automated station to check the pre-packing conformity of packages, in particular containing telephony items . Station 1 is illustrated in operating conditions within a distribution logistic unit, of which only the floor 2 is illustrated for simplicity.

The station 1 comprises a bearing frame 3 and a base wall 4 which is arranged horizontally, i.e. parallel to the floor 2, is supported in a fixed position by the frame 3 and constitutes a support base for a container 5, for example a storage box. reinforced cardboard (figure 3).

The container 5 constitutes a basic element for preparing a package ordered from a retailer; the package, in fact, is defined by the same container 5 and by a plurality of items requested, ie ordered by the retailer according to a predetermined ordering list.

The package is prepared by a human operator U who receives a plurality of warehouse items 6 picked up by further operators (not shown) and introduces them inside the container 5, which is then closed and packed by one or more packing machines. (not illustrated).

In order to be recognizable, the warehouse items 6 are provided with respective marks 6a which identify respective distinct types of article.

The term "mark" in this description means any electronically recognizable identifier, for example a matrix of bar codes and / or QR codes.

Station 1 is used by the human operator U to verify that the warehouse items 6 actually correspond to the aforementioned items required, that is to those listed in the ordering list.

In addition, station 1 also verifies that the warehouse items 6 are actually inside the container 5 before the operator U closes the latter and the package is finally packed.

With reference to Figure 1, the bearing frame 3 comprises a lower portion 7 which brings the wall 4 into a fixed position.

More in detail, the lower portion 7 is provided with:

- a rectangular frame 8 arranged parallel to the floor 2; And

- a series of crosspieces 9 arranged in parallel to two sides of the frame 8 (specifically, the shorter sides) and having respective ends coupled to the other two sides of the frame 8.

Therefore, the frame 8 comprises two terminal portions 10, 11 which are opposite to each other and shaped like a C.

In the example of figure 1, the terminal portion 10 constitutes a support for the edges of the wall 4; instead, the terminal portion 11 constitutes a support for the edges of a similar base wall 12.

This last wall 12 is part of station 1, is arranged horizontally, and is coupled like wall 4 to the lower portion 7.

The supporting frame 3 also comprises a plurality of vertical uprights that extend upwards from the lower portion 7.

Specifically, a pair of uprights 13a extends from the frame 8, while the remaining uprights 13b extend from the crosspieces 9.

The frame 3 also comprises a support structure 14 which is arranged higher up, (preferably above) the wall 4, is coupled to one of the uprights 13a near the wall 4 and can support devices of various kinds, such as electronic example.

In particular, the support structure 14 is defined by a group of horizontal beams. Furthermore, the structure 14 can be replaced by a shelf or the like. In the example of figure 1, the frame 3 is also provided with a pedestal 15 extending from the lower portion 7, in particular from one of the crosspieces 9, and acts as the structure 13 to support devices of various kinds.

According to an important aspect of the invention, in order to verify the congruence between the warehouse items 6 with the aforementioned ordering list and to monitor the quantity of warehouse items 6 in the container 5, the station 1 also comprises a goods recognition sensor T1 , a counting sensor T2, and a control unit 20 connected to the sensors T1, T2;

sensor T1 is arranged in correspondence with a marking reading area 21 (Figure 3) and is configured to detect each mark 6a and generate a respective signal S1 associated with the detected mark 6a;

sensor T2 is configured to detect a size G2 indicative of the number of warehouse items 6 arranged inside the container 5 and generate a signal S2 associated with size G2;

the control unit 20 is configured for:

- receive a plurality of reference item codes (hereinafter referred to by the abbreviation "RAC" and not illustrated) which relate to the items requested by the retailer, ie they correspond to the aforementioned predetermined ordering list;

- receiving each signal S1 and the signal S2, respectively from the goods recognition sensor T1 and from the counting sensor T2;

- extract from each signal S1 a corresponding first information relating to the respective detected mark 6a and generate on the basis of the first information a corresponding observed article code (hereinafter indicated by the abbreviation "OAC" and not illustrated) which is associated with the effectively detected mark 6a ;

- extracting from the signal S2 a second information which relates to the number of stock items 6 in the container 5;

- make an attempt for each OAC code generated to associate the same OAC code in a bi-univocal way with one of the corresponding RAC codes that can still be associated, i.e. that has not already been previously associated with a distinct OAC code, and, consequently, issue a intermediate compliance report or an error report, respectively if the same attempt is successful or unsuccessful; and

- issue a report of final conformity or package ready for packing, when all the OAC codes are associated with all the respective corresponding RAC codes and the second information indicates that the warehouse items 6 in the container 5 are equal in number to the one of the RAC codes, i.e. to that of the items requested by the retailer.

For the sake of clarity, the general term "article code" identifies in the present description any conventional signal, sign or symbol that can be processed, memorized and transcribed by the control unit 20, for example a string, an integer, an image , or a structure variable; therefore the RAC codes and the OAC codes can be, for example, identical to the marks 6a.

The RAC codes refer to requested items which should correspond, except for picking errors, to the respective inventory items 6, recognizable by the corresponding marks 6a. In case of picking errors of the warehouse items 6, some of the RAC codes would instead correspond to further warehouse items (not illustrated), in turn recognizable by further marks distinct from the marks 6a.

The OAC codes, which are instead generated by the control unit 20 as a function of the signals S1 and in response to actual detections of the marks 6a by means of the sensor T1, are homologous to the RAC codes, i.e. they can be compared with the latter by means of the control unit. control 20.

Several OAC codes can be defined by symbols which are identical to each other if and only if the respective detected marks 6a are also identical to each other. Therefore, each OAC code corresponds to a specific type of marking 6a.

If the warehouse items 6 have been correctly picked according to the aforementioned ordering list, each of the OAC codes has a one-to-one correspondence with one and only one RAC code.

The term "one-to-one" identifies a correspondence between two sets when each element of a set corresponds to one and only one element of the other set and vice versa.

In view of this, every time the control unit 20 generates an OAC code, the same control unit 20 tries to associate the OAC code in a two-way way with one of the RAC codes not yet associated, that is, still associable. In this description, "bi-uniquely associating" is intended to definitively assign a one-to-one correspondence to a pair of RAC, OAC codes, so that the RAC code of the pair can no longer be associated with other OAC codes other than the pair.

Thus, when the operator U submits a mark 6a to the sensor T1, the control unit 20 verifies that the operator U has brought in the reading area 21 a warehouse item 6 consistent with the ordering list. If the warehouse item 6 is not consistent with the list, the control unit 20 does not find any corresponding RAC code that can still be associated with the OAC code relating to the 6a mark detected.

According to an example for illustrative and non-limiting purposes, the control unit 20 receives the "krjzy" RAC codes in input; "Krjzy"; "Ffgzh", relating to items ordered from a retailer (two of which are the same), and generates the OAC codes "KRJZY"; "KRJZY"; “KRJZY” corresponding to three identical 6a marks detected by the T1 sensor. The control unit 20 has in memory the fact that an RAC code corresponds to an OAC code when the sequence of lowercase characters of one is equal to the sequence of uppercase characters of the other. Therefore, the control unit 20 associates the "KRJZY" codes in a bi-univocal way; "KRJZY", respectively to the codes "krjzy"; "Krjzy" in random order and issues two reports of intermediate compliance. Hence, the “krjzy” codes; "Krjzy" can no longer be associated as they are already associated in a bi-univocal way with the "KRJZY" codes; "KRJZY". Therefore, the control unit 20 fails the attempt to associate the last "KRJZY" code and emits the error signal, as the only RAC code that can still be associated is the "ffgzh" code, which is not corresponding. If, on the other hand, the last code had been "FFGZH", the control unit 20 would have issued the final compliance report.

Therefore, the control unit 20 is useful for monitoring any picking errors by the aforementioned warehouse operators (not shown) or by operator U.

It is clear to a person skilled in the art that the items required can be shown on the ordering list directly with their respective RAC codes, or with further codes that can be associated with the control unit 20 to the RAC codes. The RAC codes may look the same or different from that of the OAC codes, but the control unit 20 is still configured to identify the correspondences between an RAC code and a related OAC code.

According to the particular embodiment illustrated, the sensor T1, the sensor T2 and the control unit 20 are coupled in a fixed position to the frame 3.

In particular, the sensor T1 comprises an optical image recognizer 22 ("imager" in English), configured to recognize barcode matrices and, preferably, operating at an image acquisition frequency greater than or equal to 30 Hz.

Generally, in fact, some telephony items (e.g. smartphones) have various identification attributes such as, for example, the "IMEI" code, color, origin, weight ..., etc., which cannot be registered via a single bar code.

Vice versa, each property corresponds to a respective barcode which, in the specific example, constitutes a portion of the relative mark 6a.

In figure 1, the sensor T1 comprises a transparent screen 22a mounted on a bench 23 in correspondence with the reading area 21 to focus towards the recognizer 22 the light rays passing through the screen 22a itself.

In particular, the bench 23 is partially supported by a pair of uprights 13b and is provided with a pair of legs 25 fixed to the wall 12.

In addition, the sensor T1 conveniently comprises a photocell 22b fixed to the pedestal 15, connected to the recognizer 22 and configured to identify the presence of an article 6 in the reading area 21 and activate the recognizer 22 when it identifies this presence.

As shown in figure 3, the sensor T1 detects a mark 6a when the operator U brings a related stock item 6 into the reading area 21 and turns the mark 6a towards the screen 22a.

Alternatively or in addition, sensor T1 can comprise, depending on the marks 6a, optical and / or magnetic readers suitable for reading various types of identifiers in the form of symbolic codes (e.g. alphanumeric, binary, graphic ..., etc.) or electronic labels ( e.g. based on RFID or NFC technology.

In order for the control unit 20 to receive the RAC codes, the station 1 comprises an electronic reader device 24 configured to read a memory medium 25 corresponding to the ordering list, ie comprising a fourth information relating to these RAC codes.

The memory support 25 is schematically illustrated in Figure 2 coupled in a fixed position to one of the uprights 13a.

The reader device 24 can be coupled to the supporting frame 3 by means of a suitable support 26 (for example, a cover) fixed to the supporting frame 3. Although it is connected to the control unit 20, the reader device 24 is preferably portable, i.e. it works when it is separated from the support 26 by a command of the operator U.

Specifically, the reader device 26 is a barcode reader, but it could otherwise be any other type of electronic reader, such as for example an optical QR code reader or a DVD reader.

Correspondingly, the memory medium 25 is defined in particular by a body (for example, a sheet of paper) having a free surface carrying a barcode or a barcode matrix.

It is evident to a person skilled in the art that the device 24 and the relative memory support 25 could be absent; in this case, the control unit 20 receives the RAC codes through manual commands of the operator U.

To communicate the outcome of each association attempt to operator U, station 1 also includes an acoustic and / or light signaling device 28.

The device 28 is preferably coupled to the supporting frame 3 in a fixed position and can be controlled via the control unit 20 to issue the intermediate compliance report, the error report and the final compliance report or package ready for packaging.

Specifically, the device 28 is supported by the pedestal 15. More specifically, the device 28 is defined by a computer provided with an LCD screen and at least one sound box. Alternatively, the device 28 could comprise a warning light and / or a buzzer.

Whenever operator U notifies the intermediate compliance report, the same operator U can proceed to introduce the confirmed warehouse item 6 into container 5. Vice versa, operator U is asked to replace the incorrect warehouse item 6 with one consistent with the ordering list.

The T2 sensor is specifically defined by an optical transducer, for example a common camera or a so-called "laser scanner" in English.

Even more specifically, the optical transducer is arranged above the wall 4 and is fixed to the support structure 14, so as to be facing downwards, i.e. towards the inside of the container 5.

The quantity G2 detected by the optical transducer is therefore defined by an image, for example two-dimensional in color or in grayscale, of the interior of the container 5. The relative signal S2 is processed by the control unit 20 by means of known and unknown techniques. described in detail to identify at least the contours of the warehouse items 6 in the container 5. Therefore, the control unit 20 identifies the number of the warehouse items 6 by counting the number of such contours.

Alternatively, the T2 sensor is defined by a magnetic or ultrasonic transducer.

Thanks to the T2 sensor, the control unit 20 identifies the moment in which all the warehouse items 6, previously verified as being congruent with the aforementioned requested items, are actually inside the container 5, so as to form the package ready to be packaging. Then, the control unit 20 emits through the device 28 the final compliance signal at that time.

According to the particular embodiment illustrated, the station 1 also comprises a conveyor device 29 arranged between the reading area 21 and the base wall 4, coupled in a fixed position to the supporting frame 3 and adapted to carry the articles in the warehouse. 6 from the reading area 21 inside the container 5.

In particular, the conveyor device 29 is defined by a conveyor belt arranged horizontally flush with the bench 23. The conveyor belt is fixed to some uprights 13b and has two opposite ends, one of which is adjacent to the bench 23 and the other is arranged above the wall 4. Thus, the warehouse items 6 positioned on the conveyor belt by the operator U fall by gravity into the container 5.

According to alternatives not illustrated, the conveyor device 29 is constructively different from the conveyor belt illustrated; for example, the conveyor device 29 could comprise articulated mechanisms, rotary carousels and / or inclinable conveyor belts.

Still according to the particular embodiment illustrated, the station 1 is also movable with respect to the floor 2 by means of wheels 30 arranged in contact with the floor 2 and coupled in a fixed position to the supporting frame 3. In particular, the wheels 30 are coupled to the lower portion 7 and more specifically to the frame 8.

Alternatively, the station 1 comprises retractable wheels (not illustrated) and the supporting frame 3 comprises a plurality of configurable supports (not illustrated) between a position of contact with the floor 2, in which they support the station 1 in a fixed position, and a position detachment with the floor 2, in which they allow the station 1 to be mobile by means of the retractable wheels.

In the example of figure 1, the station 1 also comprises a scale 38 arranged between the wall 4 and the lower portion 7, coupled in a fixed position to the wall 4 (and, specifically, also to the lower portion 7) and configured to measure the weight of the container 5. In particular, the scale 38 is connected to the control unit 20 and is also configured to generate a signal SB relative to the weight of the container 5 and send the SB signal to the control unit 20.

Conveniently, the station 1 also comprises a printer 40, specifically arranged in proximity to the wall 4 and coupled in a fixed position to the supporting frame 3. The printer 40 is connected to the control unit 20 to receive a third information relating to the package. to be packaged, and configured to print a label (not shown) suitable for affixing to the container 5 and bearing the same third information.

The label includes a code, preferably having an alphanumeric portion and a portion readable by optical reader devices. Specifically, the third information on the label may relate to the number / type of warehouse items 6, the total weight of the package, destination and path of the package ..., etc. Optionally, the printer 40 is connected directly to the scale 38 to receive a signal (not illustrated) relating to the weight of the package.

The printer 40 prints the label only after the control unit 20 successfully completes all the checks described above, ie after the device 28 issues the final compliance report. To communicate the final compliance signal, the control unit 20 sends to the printer 40 a signal S3 which, preferably, includes the third information.

The description of a method illustrated in Figure 2 for the pre-packing verification of packages through station 1 will now follow, the method being performed by operator U.

In an initial phase of the method of figure 2 (phase 101), the operator U disposes of the warehouse items 6 stored in a further container 41.

In step 102, the operator U places the container 5 on the wall 4 in correspondence with the scale 28. Then, in step 103, the operator U takes the device 24 from the support 26 and goes to the memory support 25 to read this. 'last through the same device 24.

Therefore, the device 24 provides the control unit 20 with a signal from which the control unit 20 extracts the RAC codes.

Then, step 104, the operator U goes to the further container 41 and brings one of the warehouse items 6 from the further container 41 to the reading area 21; here, the operator U submits the relative mark 6a to the T1 sensor.

Correspondingly, the T1 sensor generates the S1 signal and sends it to the control unit 20 which, in turn, extracts the first information relating to the 6a mark and generates the respective OAC code.

Thus, in step 105, the control unit 20 tries to uniquely associate the generated OAC code with a corresponding RAC code not yet associated.

In the negative case (NO output), one passes to step 106, in which the control unit 20 commands the emission of the error signal by means of the device 28. Then, step 107, the operator U provides in a known and unknown way illustrated when replacing the inventory item 6. At this point, the method restarts from step 104.

In the positive case (output YES), one passes to step 108, in which the control unit 20 commands the issuance of the intermediate compliance signal by means of the device 28. Then, step 109, the operator U positions the article of magazine 6 on the device 29 which transports the latter inside the container 5.

At this point, the control unit 20 receives the signal S2 from the sensor T2 and extracts from the latter the quantity G2 which indicates the number of stock items 6 in the container 5. Then, step 110, the control unit 20 check that this number of items is equal to the number of RAC codes.

If not (NO output), the control unit 20 does not operate the device 28 and the operator U continues to execute the method starting from step 104.

If so (YES output), the control unit 20 commands the emission of the final compliance report and sends the S3 signal to the printer 40, which prints the label relating to the package. Thus, we move on to the final phase of the method (phase 111), in which the operator U takes the label from the printer 40, affixes the label to the container 5 and closes the container 5.

From the foregoing, the advantages of station 1 and of the method according to the present invention appear evident.

Thanks to sensors T1, T2 and control unit 20, it is possible to know with certainty whether operator U or warehouse operators have carried out fraudulent activities. In fact, the control unit 20 monitors and records all the operations carried out by operator U to prepare a package. The device 28 guides and completely scans the operations of the operator U, who therefore cannot make mistakes in good faith.

If operator U did not correctly complete the pre-packing check of the package, station 1 would not allow operator U himself to check a new package. Therefore, the responsibility of the operator U in the packaging of an inadequate package would be evident.

Conversely, a reseller's complaint relating to the lack of items in the package can only be due to tampering by the courier or the falsity of the complaint itself.

The frame 3 allows the integration of all the other components of the station 1 in a single place and in a compact and orderly manner, thus providing the operator U with precise references for carrying out the verification and preparation of the package.

Furthermore, from what has been described and illustrated it can be seen that the station 1 can be effectively used by a single human operator, with consequent considerable cost savings.

Furthermore, thanks to the scale 38 and / or the printer 40, it is possible to deliver to the courier packages accompanied by all the useful information to reduce delivery errors to the final retailer or on the price of the service provided by the courier.

Moreover, the wheels 30 allow a great versatility of use of the station 1, which can be moved to any convenient place within the distribution logistic unit.

Finally, it is clear that modifications and variations can be made to station 1 and to the method of figure 2, without thereby exceeding the scope of protection defined by the attached claims.

In particular, the verification logics and the information described above can be performed by means different from the sensors and devices described and illustrated.

Claims (1)

CLAIMS 1.- Automated station (1) for checking the pre-packing conformity of packages, in particular containing telephony items, said station being able to receive, according to a predetermined ordering list, a plurality of warehouse items (6) provided with respective univocal marks (6a) that can be inserted in a container (5) to form a package to be packed; characterized by the fact that it also includes: - a marking reading area (21) provided with a goods recognition sensor (T1), which is configured to detect each of said marks (6a) and generate a respective first signal (S1) associated with each mark (6a) detected; - a counting sensor (T2) configured to detect a quantity (G2) indicative of the number of warehouse items (6) arranged inside said container (5) and generate a second signal (S2) associated with said quantity (G2 ); and - a control unit (20) connected to the counting sensor (T2) and to the goods recognition sensor (T1), said control unit (20) being configured for: a) receiving in input a plurality of first article codes corresponding to said predetermined ordering list; b) receiving each said first signal (S1) and said second signal (S2), respectively from said goods recognition sensor (T1) and said count sensor (T2); c) extracting from each said first signal (S1) a corresponding first information relating to the respective detected mark (6a) and generating on the basis of said first information a corresponding second article code associated with the detected mark (6a); d) extract from said second signal (S2) a second information relating to said number of warehouse items (6) arranged inside said container (5); e) carry out for each second article code generated an attempt to bi-uniquely associate said second article code with one of the first article codes still associable and corresponding to said second article code and, consequently, issue an intermediate compliance report or a report of error, respectively if said attempt has a positive or negative outcome; f) issue a report of final conformity or package ready for packing, when each of said first article codes is associated and the said second information indicates that the number of warehouse items (6) arranged inside the container (5 ) is equal to the number of said first codes. 2.- Station according to Claim 1, further comprising conveyor means (29) which can be controlled by means of said control unit (20) to bring said warehouse items (6) from the reading area (21) into said container (5 ). 3.- Station according to Claim 1 or 2, further comprising a printer (40) connected to said control unit (20) and configured for: - receiving from said control unit (20) a third information relating to the package to be packaged, on the basis of said first article codes; - receiving from said control unit (20) a third signal (S3), which is generated by said control unit (20) when it emits the final compliance signal; And - print after receiving the third signal (S3) and the fourth information a label relating to the fourth information and suitable to be affixed to said container (5). 4.- Station according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a frame (3) carrying the goods recognition sensor (T1), the counting sensor (T2), the control unit (20) and, preferably, one or more wheels (30) so as to be mobile within a warehouse. 5.- Station according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising electronic reading means (24) for reading from a memory support (25) a fourth information relating to said first article codes, said electronic reading means (24) being connected to said control unit (20) to provide said fourth information to said control unit (20), so that said control unit (20) receives said first codes at its input by processing said fourth information. 6.- Station according to claim 5, wherein said electronic reading means (24) are defined by a barcode or QR code reader and in which said memory support (25) is defined by a body having a free surface which carries one or more barcodes or QR codes respectively. 7.- Station according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a base (4) for supporting said container (5), a scale (38) coupled to said base (4) for measuring the weight of the container (5) resting on said base (4), and / or an acoustic and / or light signaling device that can be controlled by said control unit (20) to emit the intermediate confirmation signal, the error signal and the final conformity signal or the package ready for packing . 8.- Station according to claim 7, wherein said counting sensor (T2) is defined by a camera arranged above said base (4) and oriented towards said base (4), so as to film, in use, the interior of said container (5) resting on said base (4). 9.- Station according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said goods recognition sensor (T1) is defined by a bar code or QR reader, each of said marks (6a) being defined by one or more bar codes or QR. 10.- Method for verifying the pre-packing conformity of packages, in particular containing telephony items, by means of a station (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, the method comprising the steps of: - arranging (101) according to a predetermined ordering list of a plurality of stock items (6), provided with respective unique marks (6a); - having (103) a plurality of first article codes corresponding to said predetermined ordering list; - bringing (104) to said reading area (21) each of said articles (6) and detecting each of said marks (6a) therein, so as to extract a respective first associated information for each detected mark (6a); - generating, on the basis of said first information, a relative second article code associated with the respective detected mark; - making (105) for each second article code generated an attempt to bi-uniquely associate the second article code generated with one of the first article codes that can still be associated which correspond to said second article code; - for each time that said attempt has a positive outcome, issue (108) an intermediate compliance report and, consequently, place (109) the related warehouse item (6) inside said container (5); - for each time that said attempt has a negative outcome, issue (106) an error signal and, consequently, replace the relative item in the warehouse (6); - detect a quantity (G2) indicative of the number of warehouse items (6) arranged inside said container (5), in order to extract a second information associated with said quantity (G2); and - issue said final conformity or package ready for packaging signal, when each of said first article codes is associated and said second information is indicative that the number of warehouse items (6) arranged inside the container (5 ) is equal to the number of said first article codes.